Dubai Financial Market attracts 42,864 new investors in first half of 2026

Trading activity on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) increased sharply in the first half of 2026, with traded value rising 40.4% year on year to $32.5 billion as 42,864 new investors joined the market.

Average daily traded value climbed 45.1% to $273 million, while the average number of daily trades increased 35.4% to approximately 18,800. Total trades rose 31% to 2.2 million across 119 trading days, compared with 123 trading days in the first half of 2025.

DFM Chairman Helal Saeed Al Marri attributed the strong performance to Dubai’s robust economic fundamentals, expanding financial ecosystem and continued interest from international investors. He said the exchange would continue developing transparent, liquid and globally connected capital markets in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

International investors accounted for 71.4% of new investor registrations during the period, underscoring the market’s appeal to overseas participants. Institutional investors accounted for 71.2% of total trading value, up from 70.8% a year earlier, while foreign investors accounted for 51% of overall trading activity.

Foreign ownership increased to 20.1% of total market capitalization, compared with 20% in the first half of 2025, while institutional ownership reached 86.5%.

DFM CEO Hamed Ali said the first-half results reflected strong liquidity and a diverse investor base. He added that the exchange would continue to broaden investment opportunities, strengthen market infrastructure and expand its range of products and services.

Market capitalization stood at $267.3 billion at the end of June, down 1.4% from $271.1 billion a year earlier. The DFM General Index closed the period at 5,956 points.

DFM reported revenue of $151.7 million for the first half, down from $242 million in the same period last year, which included $125.9 million in one-off income from the sale of an investment property.

First-half revenue comprised $104.8 million in operating income and $46.9 million in investment returns and other income.

Net profit before tax declined to $120.7 million from $211.6 million a year earlier. Expenses, excluding tax, edged up to $31 million from $30.4 million, reflecting continued investment in market infrastructure and technology.

In the second quarter, revenue totalled $82.8 million, compared with $191.3 million in the same period last year, while net profit before tax reached $68.1 million, down from $174.9 million.

DFM said it will continue to focus on increasing market liquidity, widening investor access and strengthening the infrastructure and product offering that support Dubai’s capital markets.